In short
If you stay in the UAE after your visa or residence expires or is cancelled, ICP charges AED 50 for each day of overstay, counted from the day after the grace period for your permit type ends. The grace period depends on the visa category, so we check your record first. Fines on a Dubai file can be checked on the GDRFA fines inquiry and paid through GDRFA, which adds no service fee to the fine. After paying, ICP requires you to either adjust your status or leave the UAE, and we arrange whichever route fits.
Who this service is for
Visitors whose visa ran out, residents whose visa expired or was cancelled, family members left on a cancelled sponsor file, and employees with an absconding report. The fine grows every day, so the first job is to see what is on the file. Fines go to the authority holding it: GDRFA for Dubai visas, ICP for the other emirates.
Overstay fine requirements
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Passport | Copy of the passport page and the last visa or residence |
| File details | File number, UDB number or Emirates ID for the fines inquiry |
| Overstay fine | AED 50 per day after the grace period ends (ICP) |
| Grace period | Depends on the visa category; we check your record |
| Paying on a Dubai file | No GDRFA service fee, only the fines (GDRFA) |
| Paying on an ICP file | The fines plus AED 100 smart services fee (ICP) |
| Fine reduction request | Passport copy and a letter explaining the reason and the inability to pay; AED 15.75 if the sponsor is an individual (GDRFA) |
| Absconding report | Cancelled with MOHRE (no fee) and the circular removed from the residence file |
How we sort out an overstay, step by step
- Free check. Send the passport and last visa on WhatsApp. We confirm which authority holds the file and how the days are counted.
- Inquiry. We run the GDRFA fines inquiry or the ICP check and tell you the exact amount and any report on the file.
- Absconding first. If there is an absconding report, it has to be cancelled and the circular removed before anything else can move.
- Choose your route. Stay legally on a new visa through a status change or a family visa renewal, or leave the UAE.
- Payment. We pay the fines through GDRFA or ICP. If paying is the problem, we file a fine reduction request with GDRFA.
- Status or exit. After payment the new visa is processed, or you travel once the file is clear.
Overstay fine timeline
| Stage | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Grace period | Starts when the visa expires or is cancelled; its length depends on the category |
| Fine starts | The day after the grace period ends: AED 50 a day (ICP) |
| Fine payment at GDRFA | 48 hours |
| MOHRE absconding cancellation | 14 working days, no fee |
| Removing an absconding circular (GDRFA) | 48 hours; AED 100 + AED 10 Knowledge + AED 10 Innovation |
| Fine reduction request | Decided by the GDRFA Fines Committee; no set time |
Employers: GDRFA asks you to report absconding staff within 10 days, and a false absconding report is fined AED 5,000. Leaving after a visa cancellation? Plan the departure before the grace period ends. Guides: paying fines online, overstay rules, travel ban check, grace periods.
Official sources: ICP: payment of visa or residence violation fine · GDRFA: fines inquiry · GDRFA: fine collection · GDRFA: exemption from fines · GDRFA: removing a circular · MOHRE: cancelling an absconding report · GDRFA: legal awareness
Ready to start? Send your documents on WhatsApp to +971 52 505 3494. We check them before anything is submitted, and the first consultation is free.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the overstay fine in the UAE?
ICP lists AED 50 for each day of overstay after a visa, residence or entry permit expires or is cancelled, counted from the day after the grace period ends.
Is there a grace period before fines start?
Yes, but its length depends on the visa category and on how the visa ended, so we check your record before giving you a date.
How do I check my overstay fine?
For a Dubai visa, the GDRFA fines inquiry checks your own file or the people you sponsor by file number, UDB number, Emirates ID or passport number. For the other emirates, ICP smart services show the fines on the file.
Can I pay the fine and stay in the UAE?
Yes, if you qualify for a new visa. ICP requires you to adjust your status or leave after paying, so we line up the status change or renewal before you pay.
Can overstay fines be reduced?
GDRFA accepts requests to waive or reduce fines. You submit a passport copy and a letter explaining the reason and why you cannot pay, and the Fines Committee decides. The fee is AED 15.75 if the sponsor is an individual.
What if my employer filed an absconding report?
It has to be cancelled first. MOHRE cancels absconding reports with no fee in about 14 working days, then the circular is removed at GDRFA.
Do I have to pay before I leave?
Yes. ICP's rule is that you pay the fines and then either adjust your status or leave the UAE. We pay them and confirm the file is clear before you book your flight.